Dismissal of charges sought in murder case

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has asked that murder and kidnapping charges be dropped against Daniel Paul Blankenship, who was present when a man was killed and two other people were injured in a South Salt Lake house.

Blankenship, 31, had originally been charged with murder, burglary and two counts of aggravated kidnapping, all first-degree felonies.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of second-degree felony burglary on Monday, and the other charges were dismissed. Blankenship is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8.

Another individual in the case, Jason Kyle Clark, 36, is charged with aggravated murder.

He is also charged with attempted aggravated murder, aggravated burglary, three counts of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies.

In addition, Clark is charged with class A misdemeanor cruelty to animals.

Prosecutors contend that on April 29, 2007, a drug deal that went wrong resulted in the shooting death of Kevin Brent Kone, 50.

Audra Snider-Gerdin, who lived at the home, was shot seven times and badly injured but survived. Another woman, Debra Lindner, was shot eight times and also seriously hurt but lived, according to testimony at a preliminary hearing.

Also shot and killed was Snider-Gerdin's service dog, Chloe.

Clark is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 5-21. He is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on $1 million bail.